Patagonia Men’s Untracked Jacket Review

Patagonia Untracked Jacket available at evo.com

Overview:

Patagonia is one of the largest manufacturers of outdoor recreation clothing providing high quality products to climbers, skiers, fly fishers and more; and the Untracked snow jacket is no exception to the type of quality that can be expected from this well known brand.

The Untracked Jacket is a GORE-TEX® hardshell which provides ultimate weatherproofing from rain to snow to sun, and from freezing to warmer temperatures. The three layer GORE-TEX® fabric will keep you dry and ventilated no matter the weather situation. The jacket is intended for ski and snowboard use in the alpine and is designed with a relaxed fit.

The jacket has several key features such as a high quality snow skirt, adjustable hood, and several pockets for storage. The jacket also features a RECCO® avalanche rescue reflector.

By the Numbers:

SIZES: Extra Small – Extra Large
4 External pockets
1 Internal zipper pocket
1 Internal stash pocket
2 zipper pulls on each pit-zip
2-way-adjustable hood
3 Layer 100% Nylon GORE-TEX® fabric
Colours: Purple, Wax Red, Black
MSRP: $599.00 USD ($649.00 CAD) at evo.com

Patagonia & GORE-TEX® Guarantee:

If you are not satisfied with one of our products at the time you receive it, or if one of our products does not perform to your satisfaction, you may return it to us for a repair, replacement or refund. Damage due to wear and tear will be repaired at a reasonable charge. – Patagonia

If you are not completely satisfied with the waterproofness, windproofness, or breathability of your GORE-TEX® product, then we will repair it, replace it, or refund your purchase price. No matter which of our trusted customers makes the product, if it has the GORE-TEX® label on it, we have certified that it is durably waterproof, windproof and breathable for its intended use. -GORE-TEX®

Features:

• RECCO® avalanche rescue reflector on back
• Pit-zips with easy to use double zippers
• 2 way adjustable hood, helmet friendly, laminated visor
• Powder skirt with buttoned loops to fit any Patagonia pants
• Media pocket with internal headphone wire routing and external access

Observations:

The first thing we noticed when testing the jacket was the relaxed fit seemed to be exactly what should be expected by a freeride skier or snowboarder. It fit loosely but was not bulky, and provided enough length to keep snow from entering easily from the bottom. (The model in the photos is approximately 5’10 and 150lbs wearing the size medium jacket).

When it comes to GORE-TEX®, waterproofing is the real deal. No leaks or absorption shows that the jacket is well taped and sealed. The soft interior allows for comfortable use even with just a t-shirt. GORE-TEX® does however require maintenance over time in order to shed water its best, this is simple and a good way to keep your jacket lasting for years to come.

The hood and waistline provide easy adjustability. The waist drawstring is located on the interior side of the jacket keeping it away from the outside elements and preventing any possibility of it being caught on a tree, or in other gear.

The powder skirt is clean and out of the way if you don’t want to use it, and effective when you do. It utilizes a gel strip around the bottom which holds firm to your body as well as a button fastening system stays firmly attached.

Our take:

The Patagonia Untracked jacket is no joke. Designed to keep the elements out, wick your body’s sweat, and provide optimum breathability; this jacket should keep you safe from the elements no matter warm rain or deep freezing temperatures with snow. This jacket is for anyone looking to stay dry for only a few days at the ski resort over the season, to the expert scaling new lines miles away from civilization, though with the higher price tag it is likely to attract the avid snow adventurers. The fit is more relaxed and would more likely suite the freeride crowd as it provides more mobility and room, we were happy to see it fit exactly how we expected. If you wear a medium s-shirt, and like a relaxed fit jacket, the medium is your size, not a large. What really attracts us to this jacket is the simplicity. All the features it has are necessary but there doesn’t seem to be anything extra to give it the gimmicky feel many other jackets have. Features are well thought out and it is clear that the designers at Patagonia know and understand skiing and snowboarding both at the resort and in the backcountry. At $599.00 this jacket is an investment to many, but well worth it. If staying dry is a priority during your days on the mountain, then you may want to try getting Untracked with Patagonia yourself.